Algarve's Tourist Guide - Architecture, Monuments and History of the Algarve
Portimão, Portugal Monumental Roadmap
Portimao City and County
Portimao is a Portuguese town in the district of Faro, the Algarve region and subregion, with about 36 000 residents (2001). The center is located about 2 km from the sea and is a major center for fishing and tourism.
Parishes of the municipality
- Alvor Parish
- Mexilhoeira Grande Parish
- Portimão Parish
Portimão History
Archaeological remains show the human presence in the area since the Neolithic.
Alcalar zone is an important Neolithic burial ground, which remains the "monument No. 7" composed of a chamber of circular plates of shale that is accessed by a corridor, like similar monuments scattered all over West Europe, especially the monuments found in Ireland.
The floor is of limestone shale and sandstone.
The vault, with two lateral niches rituals, was topped by two slabs, and protected by a mound.
Near Alcalar there is another cemetery in Monte Canelas.
Roman Times
The most striking vestige still exists, is located near the village of Figueira in the area of Abicada at the confluence of two rivers, where you can find a Roman archaeological site with several rooms.
Also in the area of Coca Wonderland was discovered a cistern that period, which is presented in excellent condition.
Arade were found in various archaeological finds, including gold coins.
Belinho Castle
Fifteenth century
The height of King Dom Afonso III is a charter that says the site of Portimão. Under King Afonso V at the request of 40 residents, born St Lourenço da Barrosa that result in the Vila Nova de Portimão.
Twentieth Century
Portimão at the beginning of the century due to its industrial development has become one of the great bastions of working-class struggle, and Joseph Buísel (anarcho-syndicalist) one of its top leaders.
In 1924, two events of special importance, namely 11 December, when the "new town" is a city by the then President of Manuel Teixeira Gomes and founding the first Christian Community Assembly of God in Portugal, through missionary José de Matos, also responsible for the founding of other churches of the same name in the Algarve, in Santarém and Alcanhões.
After the peak and decline of the canning industry in the 50 to 70, chose a development model, similar to the Algarve, the tourist center, featuring a wide selection of hotels, restaurants and local shops.
Became popular holiday destination mainly due to the famous Praia da Rocha and is also considered a city with great potential for lovers of big game fishing (eg, swordfish) and other water sports like jet skiing, sailing, windsurfing, scuba diving or deep sea fishing.
Current Times
In recent years, the river mouth Arad has been the scene of major events. It is also the place of proof Portuguese League international Formula 1 powerboat racing. Portimão is today a municipality in the Algarve. Pole anchor the western Algarve is distinguished for its tourism, its pulse and dynamism, very own, and a variety of activities that make your day-to-day life is lived, at various levels, so intense and marked by a rhythm that is maintained throughout the year.
Portimão because of its large tourism development, is today a city, like others in this region (eg, Quarteira, Armação de Pêra) characterized by its chaotic urban landscape.
Today you can access Portimão from anywhere in the country.
The city is served by modern, well equipped accessibility, whether by car, plane, train and boat.
Faro International Airport 63 km
Municipal Aerodrome Portimão Buses with National and International
Railway Station (Line Algarve)
Cruise Port
Marina de Portimão
Key Distances
Alvor: 4 km
Airfield Hall: 6 km
Mexilhoeira Grande: 9 km
Praia da Rocha: 2 km
Faro International Airport: 63 km
Algarve Stadium: 57 km
Lisbon: 297 km
Querença Typical Village 63 km
Places of Interest in Portimão
- Inside Portimão Parish
Current City Hall. Sárrea Garfias - Palace of the neoclassical style, with baroque, built in the late eighteenth century. On December 11, 2008 was opened in space formerly occupied by the palace, the TEMPO (Teatro Municipal de Portimão), a modern building with respect to a large extent the facade of the old building.
Largo December 1 - Garden with fountain and benches in tile panels depicting scenes from the history of Portugal.
Casa Manuel Teixeira Gomes - Where was Manuel Teixeira Gomes, President of the Republic who signed in 1924, the ordinance that raised the Portimão city.
Praça Manuel Teixeira Gomes - As in the early twentieth century, this square continues to be the meeting point of the people of Portimão.
Santa Isabel Street, Father Philip, Júdice Fialho, Serpa Pinto - nineteenth century buildings with architectural elements sixteenth century.
Jardim Visconde Bivar - 1905.
One of the oldest gardens in Portimao.
Former fish market in Portimão
Bridge Road (Old Bridge) - Opened in April 1876.
Railway Bridge - 1922
Largo da Barca - Site of the connection was made by boat, the two banks of the River Arade before construction of the bridge.
Chapel San Jose - Century XVII. Longitudinal nave and chancel rectangular.
Church of the Immaculate Conception - the fifteenth century.
Has one of the most beautiful late Gothic porticoes of the Algarve and an altarpiece in the chancel walnut wood thoroughly worked.
Jesuit College - an imposing building from the seventeenth century, with a facade with high walls and geometric trim at the main doors and pediment of undulating lines.
Ismat Building (former Industrial School) which was placed uncovered a cistern, probably from the seventeenth century.
Building Railway Station - Top 20s (century).
Red Cross building.
Marion Crane - 1947. Single copy in the Algarve engineering iron post World War II.
Museu de Portimão - Old Factory Feu, 1902
Convento São Francisco - XVI Century
Viewpoint and Fortaleza de Santa Catarina - seventeenth century. Afforded protection from Vila Nova de Portimão from pirate attacks. Inside is the Chapel of Santa Catarina.
Overlooking the beach at Praia da Rocha, bar, marina and village of Ferragudo.
Miradouro dos Três Castelos - View of the beach at Praia da Rocha and the clipping of the cliffs on the beaches of the Three Castles and Vau
- Town of Alvor
Sculpture tribute to fisherman - Designed by the master John Cutileiro, inaugurated in 2000.
Antiga Lota (Old Fish Market)
Marabout of St John Morabito and St. Peter's - Architectural remains of Arab civilization.
Quadrangular architecure buildings, with four pinnacles at each corner and a cupola crowning the dome.
At present there are chapels dedicated to Christian worship.
Viewpoint of Alvor - View of the Ria de Alvor, the most important wetland in the western Algarve.
Alvor Castle - the castle rebuilt in the twelfth century, there are only four sections of wall.
Inside is a playground.
Abreu Palace - Restored in the early nineteenth century.
Inside, the walls are plaster with frescoes.
Chapel of Mercy of Alvor - Building of simple construction, with a door and a window with stone smooth and straight lines.
Ethnographic Museum - Playback aspects of the lives of people of Alvor over time.
Alvor Mother Church - the sixteenth century Composed of a body with three aisles and five altars in addition to the chancel.
The main portal is a magnificent example of the Manueline in the Algarve.
- Town of Mexilhoeira Grande
Church - Fifteenth Century
Church of Mercy - XVII Century
Pre-historic Alcalar - End of fourth and third millennia BC Visitors will be received at the interpretation center can visit the Monument No. 7. Roman Villa of Abicada - Century II to V AD One of its outstanding features are the polychrome mosaics of geometric motifs.
Autodromo Internacional do Algarve
- Portimão beaches
Praia da Rocha - Located in the city of Portimão, Praia da Rocha is one of the most popular beaches in the Algarve, with international fame.
Described as a series of sandy rocks accompanied with whimsical forms.
The bars that are on the beach have recently been refurbished giving a greater attraction for tourist visits.
Recently it is also a favorite place to perform many commemorative celebrations.
Three Castles - Beach sand with thinner, but with excellent water surrounded by rocks with great potential for underwater fishing
Praia do Vau - After the coast of the Three Castles closer, there is the Vau.
It is a smaller beach but quite cozy and family-oriented, surrounded by clay cliffs that are attributed medicinal qualities.
Praia João Arens beach- A small stretch of sand between cliffs of difficult access, very quiet and less crowded, surrounded by islets.
It is often sought after by lovers of naturism.
Praia do Alemão (German Beach) - Beach which is located next to John Arens.
It is a secluded beach, and is one of those chosen by Mário Soares for leisure, one of the reasons for his choice, the fact of owning a villa in the same place.
Prainha beach and Praia Três Irmãos beach - Situated in Alvor parish, these beaches are following the coastline, separated by rocks with tunnels dug by the sea.
Alvor - A long sandy beach out of sight to the estuary of the Ria de Alvor.
The presence of large hotel complexes and various equipment make this beach an important and popular international tourist center.
- Sports
Portimão is also a city much marked by sport.
It is here that take place in summer, the Beach Football Cup and Step Portuguese League European Beach Soccer.
Sometimes Cycling Tour of Portugal and was the scene of the Lisbon-Dakar Rally, which also tend to practice water sports like surfing and kite surfing and other action sports like BMX and Skate.
Portimão also has several sports clubs such as the Portimonense, Portinado or Bicross Club of Portimão.
Sport in Portimão was marked by the date November 2, 2008, because that day was inaugurated, officially, the Algarve International Circuit
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